The Savior and The Song

Chapter 32~ Lend A Helping Hand

Oct. 13, 2039, 3:54:04 PM

Markus's POV

Some time had passed since Carl's death, but Melody and I had been doing better. We worked fewer hours and spent the rest of the time just talking, whether it be about Carl, or our respective politics, or what we wanted to do for date night that week. It was all in the sake of keeping up with work while allowing ourselves to feel the loss. And it was working. This was the first day in months that I'd stayed to work on new plans past 2 in the afternoon, and as far as I knew, Melody was still in Transmonia.

I was jarred from my thoughts when someone knocked on my door.

"Come in," I called, not bother looking up.

"Markus," A familiar voice said and I glanced up.

"Connor. What brings you here?"

"Human against Android violence, while decreasing significantly, is still an issue and because of it, Hank and I have a little orphaned boy in our custody. We were wondering if you might know anyone who could take care of him."

"Is he here now?" I asked, putting my pen down.

"He's in the living room."

"Why don't we head there, and I'll meet with him. Melody should be back soon, and we'll decide what to do from there." He nodded and we made our way to the little boy.

"Are you Markus?" The terrified boy asked, his LED flashing red.

"I am. What's your name?"

"Malachi," He answered.

"Markus, where are you?" Melody's voice rang out and I smiled. Right on cue.

"Living room. We have guests."

"Guests? What guests?" She asked, entering the room. "Oh, I see. What happened to you little one?" She asked, approaching him slowly.

"Humans attacked and killed my mom and dad. I managed to get away."

"So you're all alone? Come here, little one," She said, sitting in front of him. He lunged at her, holding her as tight as he could before he started crying.

"Did you get his name?" Melody asked.

"Malachi."

"Malachi. What a nice name. Are you going to be ok, buddy?" Melody asked as the little boy in her arms started to calm down. I knew all too well just how comforting her arms could be, and I didn't blame him for relaxing with her touch.

"I don't want to be alone," He told her, tears in his eyes.

"You're not going to be alone, sweetheart. We're going to find someone to take care of you," She promised, wiping his tears.

"Markus, can I talk to you?" She asked once the boy had calmed down enough that he had gotten off her lap.

"Of course," I said and we left him with Connor and Hank.

"What do we do with him. He's obviously terrified and he's all alone."

"I was thinking we take him," I suggested.

"As much as I want too, Markus, I work on another planet. And there's still so much to do for Android rights. We just don't have the time."

"How close are you to finishing cleaning up your mother's rule?"

"I still have like 7 hours worth of work to do, but I have like twenty peace treaties I have to renew. Not to mention the number of royal balls I have to go to on my countries behalf."

"Can you finish working from home? Clean up all the miscellaneous doctrines and review and edit the peace treaties?"

"Probably, yeah."

"And when are the balls?"

"Not for another month and a half, but they stretch over two months."

"So, you work from home and get done what you can while you watch him and then on the days of the balls, I'll take the day and take care of him. Did I miss anything?" I asked.

"Are you sure you want to do this? He's a child who physically can't grow up and that's a lifelong commitment. I don't want to take him and then pawn him off to someone else."

"Melody, he relaxed so quickly as soon as you entered the room and then when you hugged him he was like a whole other kid. He was ready to tell you his entire life story. And you're so good with him. To top it off, I think we're ready for a kid, and this one needs us," I pleaded.

"Alright, alright. We'll take him in. But I'm not raising him on my own, Markus. You are going to help me with this," She told me, and I felt a bit uneasy with how intensely she was looking at me.

"Of course I'll help you. This was my idea."

"You only like him because he looks exactly like you except for longer hair," She accused and I laughed.

"I like him because he's likable. And he needs us."

"Fine, let's go." We re-entered the room to see Connor struggle to play with Malachi.

"Connor, what are you doing?" Hank grumbled, crossing his arms.

"Attempting to entertain him."

"Not very well," Hank huffed.

"Leave him alone, Hank. He's doing his best," Melody said, and Malachi perked up at the sound of her voice.

"Hi!" He said, walking up to her. "What's your name?"

"My name is Melody. And I hear yours is Malachi."

"Yup!"

"It's nice to meet you, Malachi. How would you like to live with Markus and I?" She asked and his whole face lit up.

"Live here?"

"We don't actually live here, buddy. Markus just works here."

"But the other Androids I met said they lived here."

"They do. I just moved in with Melody because she has to eat and go to the bathroom and such," I explained.

"You're a Human?" He asked.

"No," She smiled, showing her fangs, ears, and tail.

"Woah... Cool!"

"What do you say? Wanna live with us?"

'Yeah!" He giggled and my heart filled up with happiness for the first time since Carl.

"We didn't mean that you two would take him. We know you're busy-" Hank started.

"We want to do this, Hank. Don't worry about him, just go catch his parents killers."

"Yessir. Come on, Con. We have a case to solve." They left with their goodbyes and Melody picked Malachi up and put him on her hip.

"Why don't the two of us head home and we figure out where your room is? Then we'll head to the store and get stuff to decorate it," Melody said and Malachi giggled.

"That sounds awesome!"

"Then let's go. Markus, you coming with us?" Melody asked me.

"Yeah. Come on, we have a little boy to set up," I smiled, walking home with my family. Everythings going to be just fine.